'Blue Christmas' service set for Dec. 9

Monday

Nov 26, 2012 at 1:30 AMNov 26, 2012 at 1:30 AM

MUIR — Lyons-Muir Church is offering a "Blue Christmas" service at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at the church, located at the corner of Olmstead Road and M-21.They say "Merry Christmas." They say "Happy Holidays." The season is supposed to be joyous, happy, full of good cheer. For some it is. For others, the season is simply to be endured; gotten through as quickly as possible. While some sing Silent Night and Deck the Halls, others are remembering losses and tough times.This contrast between that is supposed to be and what is can be devastating. A "blue Christmas" just makes people feel all the more isolated and alone. How are you supposed to celebrate when the kids are going to spend Christmas Day with your ex, instead of with you? How can you be joyful as you remember the death of a parent, or a child, or a sister or brother? How can you say happy holidays when you have been diagnosed with cancer or another terrible disease? How can you get through the season when your family is so far away or when the family is so broken no one wants to talk to each other? Celebrate? I'm unemployed and have no money for presents. Celebrate? I'm in so much pain I can barely walk.All sorts of "realities" can hang in the air and turn the season blue. Yet, there is hope. The people who have walked in darkness see a great light. The storms of life are calmed by the God of the broken. God is present and can be found even on the darkest day of the year. The winter solstice is Dec. 21. That is the darkest night of the year. The Messiah is born on Christmas morn, just four days later. In this special Advent worship service we will sing and pray. We will offer up our pain and sorrow, loneliness and grief, anxiety and fear, and all the dark memories. We connect our blue Christmas to the God of hope whose Son Emmanuel we eagerly await. Please join us. Come find hope and peace and comfort knowing you are not alone. Others share you pain. God embraces the dark night and brings light.

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